About Scott Dibble

Scott Dibble took action when a hostile presidential administration stood by as HIV/AIDS devastated LGBT communities in the 1980s. He has never stopped working for racial, social and economic justice and his efforts got real results for all Minnesotans. Every day he is fueled by the core value that every single person is equal, that everyone matters, and that every one of us deserves fairness and opportunity. Today Scott is taking his lifelong fight for justice to Congress.

Forged in the politics of adversity, Scott has been a movement organizer and progressive leader for decades. In the 1980’s he was an activist with ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis. After experiencing police abuse, he worked in coalition with communities of color to help form the Minneapolis Police Civilian Review Authority. As an organizer with It’s Time Minnesota he helped pass the Minnesota Human Rights Act Amendment in 1993 to bar discrimination against LGBT people. With the Neighborhood Transportation Network in the early 90’s he worked with neighborhood residents, activists and elected officials to fight a freeway expansion being steamrolled through the community and demanded regional transit be included.

In the 1990s Scott turned direct action into policy accomplishments as aide to Minneapolis City Council Member Doré Mead. In 2000, he ran for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, becoming the third openly gay legislator to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. After serving a term in the House, Scott ran for and won a State Senate seat in 2002.

Scott has played a key role in a wide array of legislative successes. They include defeat of the anti-marriage constitutional amendment followed rapidly by passing the freedom to marry the person we love, a historic transportation funding measure, enactment of the Freedom to Breathe Act (ensuring clean indoor air for all workers), and approval of the Homeless Youth Act.

As the Chair of the Senate's Transit Subdivision, he played a pivotal role in the override of Governor Pawlenty's veto of a vital transportation improvement bill that allowed the Twin Cities to at long last, begin building a transit system that delivers greater equity. He served on a special investigative committee that looked into the tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge, determining that political and funding decisions were contributing factors.

He continues to lead in the Minnesota Senate on our state’s challenges on human rights, transportation and transit, energy efficiency, the environment, housing and economic development. Scott provided leadership to prevent neighborhood programs from total elimination, has been the legislative leader on bullying prevention and HIV/AIDS issues.

Also in his portfolio of legislative accomplishments are the tenant bill of rights; leadership on key capital bonding projects such as light rail transit, high speed rail, the Minnesota Orchestra; the Walker Art Center; improvements for Minneapolis Community and Technical College; nation leading reductions to mercury emissions from coal plants; a national model on greater energy efficiency; establishing more solar energy; a response to the foreclosure crisis; reducing tobacco use; greater gun safety; assisting senior citizens with their transportation, housing and economic needs; equality for women in their own healthcare and employment; fighting on behalf of tipped employees; advances in animal welfare; reforming and revitalizing our democracy; consumer protections; protecting the renter's credit; supports for those struggling with poverty and homelessness; rights for immigrant workers. He has long championed housing and job supports for those with disabilities and mental illness, returning progressivity to our tax system, labor and collective bargaining rights, making higher education more affordable, criminal justice reform including support for at risk youth, reversing mass incarceration policies, restorative justice and the fight for better policing.

All of these efforts have been fueled by tremendous grassroots organizing and movement building. Scott continues to speak truth to power and holds on to the hope, born out by evidence, that when enough committed people come together to claim their own power and resolve to get good things done to improve lives, anything is possible no matter the strength of the opposition.

Scott lives in Uptown, Minneapolis. He is married to his husband, Richard Leyva. He is deeply involved in the life of his extended family. In his spare time, he is an avid runner, swimmer, weight lifter, triathlete, and has run many marathons. He loves theater, film, reading, cooking, and travel.